DIARYLIMIDAZO [2,1-a]ISOINDOLES

ABSTRACT

Diarylimidazo (2,1-a) isoindoles, e.g., 5-(p-chlorophenyl)-5phenyl-5H-imidazo (2,1-a) isoindoles, are prepared by acid rearrangement of 2-(2&#39;&#39;-imidazolyl)- Alpha , Alpha -diaryl substituted benzyl alcohols and are useful as anti-microbials.

United States Patent 91 Houlihan I 54 DIARYLIMIDAZO [2,1-A]ISOINDOLES [75] Inventor: William J. Houlihan, Mountain Lakes, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Sander-Wander, lnc., Hanover, NJ. [22] Filed: March 17,1971

[2]] App]. No.: 125,336

[52] US. Cl. ..260/309, 260/296 T, 260/3096, 424/263, 424/273 [51] Int. Cl. ..C07d 49/36 [58] Field of Search ..260/309, 296 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Druey et al ..260/309.7 Houlihan ..260/309.7

[ 51 Feb. 6, 1973 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Natalie Trousof Att0rneyGera1d D. Sharkin, Thomas C. Doyle, Robert S. Honor, Walter F. Jewell, Thomas 0. Mc- Govern, Richard E. Vila and Frederick H. Weinfeldt [57] ABSTRACT Diarylimidazo 2,l-aI isoindoles, e.g., 5-(p chlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-5H imidazo 2, 1 -21} isoindoles, are prepared by acid rearrangement of 2-(2- imidazolyl)-a,a-diaryl substituted benzyl alcohols and are useful as anti-microbials.

2 Claims, N0 Drawings (l) where each Ar represents where X is O or --S and R is as defined above pro vided trifluoromethyl groups are not bonded to adjacent carbon atoms and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.

The compounds of formula (I) are prepared in accordance with the following reaction scheme:

where R, Ar and the proviso are as set out above. The compounds ofform ula(l are prepared by treating compounds of formula (ll) with an organic acid. The particular organic acid used is not critical but acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, alkylsulfonic acids, such as methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid and the like, and arylsulfonic acid,

such as benzenesulfonic acid, p-totuenesulfonic acid and the like, are preferred. Although a solvent is not necessary, it is preferred that the reaction be carried out in excess organic acid or in an inert solvent, e.g., hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as pentane, hexane, benzene, toluene, methylene dichloride, chlorobenzene and the like and ethers such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran. The process is preferably carried out at temperatures between about 50 to 200 C., especially at the reflux temperature of the system. For optimum results, the reaction is run for about 6 to 72 hrs. The particular solvent used, the reaction temperature and the reaction time are not critical. The product is recovered by conventional techniques e.g., evaporation or recrystallization.

The compounds of formula (II) are novel and are prepared in accordance with the following reaction scheme:

where R, Ar and the proviso are as set out above.

The compounds of formula (II) are prepared by treating compounds of formula (III) with an aryl lithium compound (IV) in an inert atmosphere. The inert atmosphere is preferably nitrogen, argon or helium. Although a solvent is not necessary, it is preferred that the reaction be carried out in an inert solvent, e.g., hydrocarbons, such as pentane, hexane, benzene, toluene, and the like and especially ethers' such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran. The temperature of the reaction is not critical but it is preferred that the process be carried out at temperatures between about l0 to 35 C, especially 0 to 20 C. For optimum results the reaction is run for about 2 to 48 hrs; preferably 8 to 24 hrs. The particular solvent used in the preparation and the reaction time are not critical. The product is recovered by conventional techniques e.g., chromatography.

The compounds of formula II may be represented by their tautomeric equivalents formulas Y acetate,

11) (Ha) where R, Ar and the proviso are set out above.

lt will be appreciated that these tautomers can exist in equilibrium. Which tautomer predominates will depend on such factors as whether the compound is a solid or in solution, the pH and the polarity of the environment. In order to simplify the present description, however, formula (ll) only will be used, although both tautomeric forms are considered to be within the concept ofthe instant invention.

Many of the compounds of formula (III) and its tautomer (llla) and the compounds of formula (IV) are known and can be prepared by methods described in the literature. The compounds of formula (III), (llla) and (N) which are not specifically disclosed in the literature can be prepared by analogous methods using known starting materials.

The compounds represented by formula (1) above are useful as anti-mycotic agents as indicated by their activity at concentrations of 4 to 100 micrograms/ml in vitro against organisms such as trichophyton mentagrophytes, candida albicans, penicillum comune, aspergillus niger, microsporium felineum, and the like. This is indicated by their activity when tested using a conventional serial dilution test.

For such usages, compounds (I) may be administered orally, parenterally or topically as such or admixed with conventional pharmaceutical carriers. They cay be administered orally in such forms as tablets, dispersible powders, granules, capsules, syrups, and elixirs; parenterally as solutions, suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, and the like, e.g., a sterile injectable aqueous suspension and topically as solutions, salves and the like. These pharmaceutical preparations may contain up to about 90 percent of the active ingredient in combination with the carrier or adjuvant.

Furthermore, these compounds of formula (I) may be similarly administered in the form of their non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. Such salts possess the same order of activity as the free base, are readily prepared by reacting the base with an appropriate acid and accordingly are included within the scope of the invention. Representative of such salts are the mineral acid salts, such as the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, phosphate and the like and the organic acid salts, such as the succinate, benzoate, p-toluenesulfonate, benzene-sulfonate, maleate, malate, tartrate, methanesulfonate, cyclohexylsulfamate and the like.

Although the anti-mycotic effective dosage utilized in the treatment of mycosis will vary depending upon the compound employed and the mode of administration, in general, satisfactory results are obtained when these compounds are orally administered for systemic use at a daily dosage of about 20 mg. to about mg. per kilogram of animal body weight. This duily dosage is preferably administered two to four times a day, or in sustained release form. For most large mammals in need of said treatment the total daily dosage is from about 1 gm. to about 7 gm. Dosage forms suitable for internal use comprise about 250 mg. to about 3.5 g. of active compound in intimate admixture with a solid or liquid pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

The preferred pharmaceutical compositions form the standpoint of preparation and ease of administration are solid compositions, particularly hard-filled capsules and tablets containing about 50 to 100 milligrams of active ingredient.

Tablets and capsules containing the ingredients indicated below may be prepared by conventional techniques and are useful in treating mycosis at a dose of one tablet or capsule two to four times a day.

Ingredients Weight (mg) tablet capsule S-(p-chlorophenyl)-5'phenyl-5H-imidazo 250 250 {2-l-a}-isoindole hydrochloride Tragacanth 0 Lactose l97.5 250 Corn starch 25 Talcum l5 Magnesium stearate 2.5

The following pharmaceutical compositions are formulated with the indicated amount of active agent using conventional techniques. The injectable solution and the oral liquid solution represent formulations useful in the treatment of mycosis.

lnjectablc Liquid (Weight%) (Weight%) 5-(p-chlorophenyU-S-phenyl -5H-imidazo {2, l -a} isoindole 5-(p-chlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-5H-imidazo {2,1 'al isoindole hydrochloride Step A: 2-(2'imidazolyl)-a-phenylbenzyl alcohol Into a flask equipped with a stirrer, condenser, dropping funnel and maintained under a nitrogen blanket is changed 100ml anhydrous tetrahydrofuran and 5.6g (0.02 mole) of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-5H- imidazo {2,l-a}isoindole. The mixture is cooled to about 0 C, and over a period of about 20 minutes, 2l ml. (0.05 mole) of 2.39 molar phenyllithium in benzene is added while maintaining the temperature at 0 to 5 C. The mixture is allowed to stir overnight at room temperature after which 25 ml. of saturated amononium chloride solution is added dropwise fol- (4-trifluoromethylphenyl) l S-hydroxy-SHdmidazo {2,1- a} isoindole is used in place of the 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5 -hydroxy-5H-imidazo {2,l-a} isoindole above there is obtained 2-(2'-imidazolyl)-a,a-diphenylbenzyl alcohol,2-(2-imidazolyl)-a-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-aphenylbenzyl alcohol, 2-(2-imidazolyl)-a-(4-tolyl)-aphenylbenzyl alcohol, 2-(2'-imidazolyl)-a-(4-methoxyphenyl)-a-phenylbenzyl alcohol or 2-(2"imidazolyl)- a-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-a-phenylbenzyl alcohol respectively. Step B: 5-(p-chlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-5H-imidazo {2,1- a} isoindole hydrochloride Into a flask equipped with a stirrer and reflux condenser is charged 1.3 g of 2-(2imidazolyl)-a-(pchlorophenyl)-a-phenylbenzyl alcohol and I5 ml. of acetic acid. The solvent is stirred and refluxed for 48 hours after which the solvent is removed in vacuo. The residue is treated with 5 ml. saturated sodium bicarbonate then dissolved in toluene. The toluene layer is separated, dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate is then treated with a stream of an-- EXAMPLE 2 5,S-di-(p-chlorophenyl)-5H-imidaz0 {2,l-a} isoindole When the process of step A of example l is carried out using an equivalent amount of p-chlorophenyllithium, p-tolyllithium, p-methoxyphenyllithium, ptrifluoromethylphenyllithium, 2-thienyllithium, 2- pyridyllithium or 2-furyllithium in place of the phenyllithium used therein there is obtained 2-(2'- imidazolyl)-a,a-di-(p-chlorophenyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2- (2'-imidazolyl)-a-(p-chlorophenyl)-a-(p-tolyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2-(2'-imidazolyl)-a-(p-chlorophenyl)-a-(pmethoxyphenyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2-(2-imidazolyl)-a- (p-chlorophenyl)-a-(p-trifluoromcthylphenyl)-bcnzyl alcohol, 2-(2'-imidaz0lyl)-a-(p-chlorophcnyl)-u-(2- thienyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2-(2-imidazolyl)-a-(pchlorophenyl)-a-(2-pyridyl)-benzyl alcohol or 2-(2' imidazolyl)-a-(p-,chlorophenyl)-a-(2-furyl)-benzyl alcohol, respectively.

Following the procedure of step B of example 1 but using an equivalent amount of 2-(2-imidazolyl)-a,adi-(p-chlorophenyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2-(2'-imidazolyl)- a-(p-chlorophenyl)-a-(p-tolyl)-benzyl alcohol, 2-(2- R I Q4: -|Ar N N l where Ar represents X is -O-- or S-; and each R independently represents hydrogen, halo having an atomic weight of about 19 to 36, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or trifluoromethyl or a pharmaeeutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof provided trifluoromethyl groups are not bonded to adjacent carbon atoms.

' 2. The compound of claim 1 which is 5-(pchlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-5H-imidazo[2,l-a]isoindole. 

1. A compound of the formula 